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Shooting a reminder that life is precious

There are simply no words to aptly describe the shock and grief that I felt after learning of the horrific shooting at a mill here in Nanaimo. These victims were simply doing their jobs in order to pay bills and take care of their families. Because of the violent actions of another person, their future is changed forever.

My heart aches for those employees who witnessed the tragedy and are dealing with the trauma. What motivates someone to conceive in his own mind, plan and then carry out such a violent act against others? I cannot make sense of something so senseless, and there is a feeling of powerlessness that seems foreign to me. I am awestruck by those valiant workers who helped subdue the shooter and ensure that no more lives were lost. Their courage comes at a great personal sacrifice, but one that we need to recognize because if we don’t, we give all of our power to those who act in a destructive fashion. I hope the media will focus on the heroes of this sad story and not the perpetrator.

Last week, I picked up the phone and called a friend and said I didn’t want to wait until it was ‘convenient’ for us to see each other. I wanted to make sure that I didn’t wait until it was too late to tell them how important they are to me. You see, my friend worked at the company where this senseless tragedy occurred, and had changed jobs only recently. Being able to speak with them brought me a sense of relief that I had another chance to make things right, and not put off making important people important to us.

I know how precious this gift is, because someone else out there isn’t going to get that same chance to tell their friend or loved one how much they matter.

Life is precious.

Brian McCulloughvia e-mail

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